Esmé’s Article: ‘Flowers'

I nearly made my title say “Eating my Daffodils“!

The main reason that I enjoy living in Marshfield Park is that my neighbours are always so very kind to me – really good friends. Two days ago I opened my front door to find Allan on my doorstep, holding out a gift for me from his wife Sandra and himself. He was holding a bunch of green stems which looked like asparagus. I thanked him and said “Oh good, I really must try and eat more vegetables"! Allan replied “They are daffodils"!

I would never have guessed. I put them into water, and in one day, I had three vases full of bright yellow flowers, the largest daffodils I have ever seen! Magic! York is known for its daffodils, but mine are fantastic. They are the flower of March. This is good, because my grand-daughter Madelaine adores them, and she was born in March.

I was born in April, so my signature flower is a sweet-pea. If I had arrived a day later, it would haver been May, so lily-of-the-valley. On May 1st in France, people give their friends bunches of these pretty white flowers, and shops give a spray of them to their loyal customers.

Do you know what your birth flower is? Most months have two flowers, but, being short of space, I can only tell you one!

• January – Carnation
• February – Primrose
• March /April /May – As above
• June – Rose
• July – Larkspur
• August – Poppy
• September – Aster
• October – Marigold
• November – Chrysanthemum
• December – Narcissus.

However much you love flowers, it is best to avoid sunflowers and chrysanthemums if you suffer from hay-fever. Lavender is one of my favourites, such a gorgeous colour and also good for you. I have friends who spray their bed-linen with lavender to get a good night’s sleep.

Please do not eat your daffodil stems… although I do wonder what they taste like?

Have a happy spring-time!

Esmé